Professor Nentawe Yilwatda has been nominated as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), replacing Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who resigned due to health reasons.
Yilwatda, a former university lecturer and the current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, was endorsed following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and APC governors in Abuja.
Party insiders say his nomination aligns with APC’s zoning formula, which assigns the chairmanship to the North-Central region, and his Christian background reportedly enhanced his appeal.
“He is young, suave, well-educated, and doesn’t carry the usual political baggage,” a senior party official told PREMIUM TIMES.
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Yilwatda previously served as Resident Electoral Commissioner for INEC, overseeing polls in multiple states before running as APC’s governorship candidate in Plateau in 2023.
Although he lost the election, President Tinubu later appointed him to the federal cabinet, recognising his political acumen and administrative experience.
His nomination is widely seen as a move to stabilise a party facing internal divisions and declining popularity in several regions.
“We believe he can give the party a new face and restore credibility ahead of future elections,” the APC source added.
Party leaders hope his appointment will bolster unity and project a more inclusive and reform-minded image ahead of the 2027 polls.
